Tired of waiting for traditional publishers to respond

by Tina Field Howe
(Corning, NY USA)

Snailsworth, a slow little story

Tired of waiting for traditional publishers to respond? Life is just too short!

I submitted my children's picture book - Snailsworth, a slow little story - to a traditional publisher that claimed to respond within a month. Six months later, the manuscript came back with a rejection slip.

Since I had prototyped the book and tested it with many parents and children, I knew I had a winner, so I used a local graphics company who did an outstanding job of printing it for me.

I began to sell my book at bookstores and local author events, which was a fine way to start; but I needed more exposure. It's difficult for independent writers/publishers to get their books listed with major on-line booksellers, but I remained hopeful.

It's becoming more and more difficult for new writers to find publishers to take them on or agents to represent them...unless they're a celebrity, wink-wink.

Enter BookLocker, a print on demand outfit that had all the right stuff: working one-on-one with the writer, professional printing, low cost, and book listings on all major online booksellers.

Perhaps the best thing about BookLocker is their exclusiveness: if a book's not ready to print - if it's written poorly - it is rejected. That's why BookLocker has a good reputation in the self-publishing/POD world.

In the year after I published the novel, BookLocker started offering color interior printing...so now both Snailsworth and Alysa are getting great exposure.

At first I felt odd about going to a POD, but the printing press was invented for a reason - so that anybody could publish. Just because traditional publishers have become so powerful does not mean that a writer's words should not be made available without the gatekeepers' approval.

True freedom of the press has returned, and I'm not ashamed to be using a POD. I may submit the books to traditional publishers at some point; it is always an option.

But with the availability of POD...why bother?

Authors must keep in mind, however, that they must produce the best writing they can - to entertain and inform readers, to take them on a journey that they would otherwise miss out on.

Comments for Tired of waiting for traditional publishers to respond

What a unique literary form - offering two versions of text for two age groups! You just might be a pioneer in encouraging reading levels and multiplying your target markets. Do you find that the POD label gets scorn from bookstores and reviewers? That's the reason I've shied away from Book Surge, an Amazon affiliate. I've had bookstores discourage me from POD. But, I haven't had much success via my website sales, either. Have you?

Dec 14, 2007Rating

Using the netby: Tina Field Howe

In reply to your comment (thanks for posting one so quickly!) I very heavily promote my web sites and show them whenever I can; I think a site's very important to have. It's like having a living portfolio. I love the web!

Dec 13, 2007Rating

What a great cover!by: Steve B.

Tina, the book looks amazing, not self-published at all. Clearly you're an artist who knew how to get it done. I'm guessing the story is just as good.

I can't help noticing that you have a website in support of your book (and other endeavors). I find myself wondering how big a part of your marketing effort your web presence is? If you're still out there, maybe you could tell!!